The Ever-Changing Definition of Marriage

When God observed His creation of man, He observed, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him” (Genesis 2:18). God made a special creation using one of Adam’s ribs to provide a suitable companion for Adam. God made one woman to resolve the issue of man’s loneliness. God did not design a marriage between Adam and Steve or Adam and Eve, Mary Beth, Bertha, and Steve.

However, it has been noticed by some that those who have rejected God’s design of one man and one woman for one lifetime are condemned to a life of loneliness. What can be done for these poor souls? Get the highest court in the land to change the definition of marriage.

Homosexual Marriage

In 2015 on the twenty-sixth day of June, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the Fourteenth Amendment requires all states to grant same-sex marriages and all states to recognize these marriages from other states. The first president to support homosexual marriage while in office was Barak Obama. He declared, “This ruling is a victory for America. This decision affirms what millions of Americans already believe in their hearts. When all Americans are treated as equal, we are all more free.” Now with this 5-4 ruling the Supreme court has change the legal definition of marriage in all fifty states.

The reasoning behind this historical landmark decision is not based on God’s Will and design for marriage but the emotional well-being of gay couples who desire to be married. Justice Anthony Kennedy, one of the Supreme Court Justices who ruled in favor of homosexual’s right to marry, wrote it “is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.”

Based on this reasoning, everyone who may fall lonely and robbed of “civilization’s oldest institutions” should be granted the right by the Constitution to get married to whomever or whatever they “love.” Having ruled against gay marriage, Chief Justice John Roberts observed, “It is striking how much of the majority’s reasoning would apply with equal force to the claim of a fundamental right to plural marriage.”

Bisexual Marriage

What about those who have a desire to “love” both genders. Should marriage also include a man being married to both a man and a woman or a woman being married to a woman and a man? Why should they be “excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions” and “be condemned to live in loneliness”?

Polygamous Marriage

Many men in Islamic nations are permitted my by their religion and government to have up to four wives. The Mormon’s created a territory in Utah promoting marriage between a man and several women. Why not? They claim to be happy. “ I’m in a polygamous relationship and I have never been happier all three of us are happy and we love each other equally.”

Polyandrous Marriage

In Johannesburg, South Africa Pumza Fihlani of BBC News wrote an article titled: “Outcry over South Africa’s multiple husbands proposal.” The progressively liberal government of of South Africa has ruled that marriage include homosexual couples as well as polygamous marriage where men are permitted to have more than one wife. The government in an effort to promote equality for women had suggested legislation legalizing the right to a woman to have multiple husbands. This is also referred to as polyandry. Why not? Women can be lonely just like men and more than one husband may just be what she needs to alleviate her loneliness.

Polyamorous Marriage

Polyamory is a compound word made up of the Greek word “poly” and the Latin “amor” meaning “many loves.” Polyamorous or Group marriage includes polygamous and polyandrous marriages but goes further in that it includes multiple men and women in a marital relationship. For example, it could be made up of three men and four women. Some of these are gay, others bisexual or heterosexual.

Open or Wife-Swapping Marriage

This practice is found in ancient cultures around the world. It is still practiced in some African tribes as a demonstration of hospitality. Statistics show that only about 4% of marriages in the United States are open, that is, the husband and wife permit each other to have sexual relationships with others. In America couples who participate in this practice are called “swingers.” God has different terms he uses when referencing them. “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4).

Incestuous Marriage

A national committee in Germany called the Ethics Council is promoting the legality of marriage between brothers and sisters. This decision was made based on a study of a relationship between a brother and sister which produced four children. They released the following statement: “Criminal law is not the appropriate means to preserve a social taboo. The fundamental right of adult siblings to sexual self-determination is to be weighed more heavily than the abstract idea of protection of the family.”

In the United States marriage between first cousins is approved in several states under certain conditions or restrictions. For example, in Wisconsin the woman has to be 55 or older, or one or both are reproductively sterile. North Carolina allows free for all first cousin marriage.

Although the New Testament does not address incest as plainly as the Old Testament, the Law of Moses clear prohibited such relationships Leviticus 18:6-18; Deuteronomy 27:22).

Human/Animal Marriage

As early as 2001 a Maine judge was petitioned by Phillip Buble to have relationship with his pet dog to be legally recognized as equal to marriage. Buble argued with the court that some people “are born with a true love for animals and have a lifelong commitment to their care.” The judge did not buy it. (Jasper, William F., Homosexual Marriage to Bestiality The New American September 8, 2008).

Mike Huckabee Presidential candidate in 2008 argued, “I think the radical view is to say that we’re going to change the definition of marriage so that it can mean two men, two women, a man and three women, a man and a child, a man and animal…Again, once we change the definition, the door is open to change it again” (ibid.)

Robotic Marriage

Marriage to a life-like artificial intelligence in the form of an Android. American roboticist, Dr. David Hanson, has created Sophia the most advanced android to date. He sees in the future that by 2045 humans and robots be allowed to marry (Malado, Jardine, Christian Today 25 May 2018). Yes, times are changing. But does this mean God’s design and definition of marriage must change with it. Or does marriage remain as unchangeable as it’s Creator?

– Daniel R. Vess

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Categories: The Forum